Karzai warns NATO Afghan life not cheap

[ProSense]

Karzai warns NATO Afghan life not cheap

By RAHIM FAIEZ, Associated Press Writer Sat Jun 23, 3:18 PM ET

KABUL, Afghanistan - President Hamid Karzai accused NATO and U.S.-led troops Saturday of carelessly killing scores of Afghan civilians and warned that the fight against resurgent Taliban militants could fail unless foreign forces show more restraint.

"Afghan life is not cheap and it should not be treated as such," Karzai said in an angry rebuke that drew a contrite acknowledgment from NATO that it must "do better."

In the past 10 days, more than 90 civilians have been killed by airstrikes and artillery fire targeting Taliban insurgents, Karzai said. The mounting toll is sapping the authority of the Western-backed Afghan president, who has pleaded repeatedly with U.S. and NATO commanders to consult Afghan authorities during operations and show more restraint.

"Several times in the last year, the Afghan government tried to prevent civilian casualties, but our innocent people are becoming victims of careless operations of NATO and international forces," Karzai said at a news conference in his Kabul palace.

The casualties listed by Karzai bring the number of civilians killed in NATO or U.S.-led military operations this year to 211, according to an Associated Press tally of figures provided by Afghan and foreign officials and witnesses.

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[Spazito]

1. This is repetitive, this has been happening for years

NATO bombs and fires artillery shells, kills civilians in ever increasing numbers, Karzai "rebukes" NATO, NATO says they must do better then NATO, again, bombs and fires artillery shells, kills civilians in ever increasing numbers.